Nov. 6, 2013 – The Wisconsin Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Committee approved $111,570 in reimbursements to eight victims of lawyer theft at its September meeting. The committee considered 31 claims, denied 11 claims, and deferred 12 to its Feb. 4, 2014 meeting. The dollar amount sought for the deferred claims totals $396,999.97.

“The Fund has seen a recent upswing in the number and size of claims,” said Committee Chair Amy Wochos, Milwaukee. “This is an unfortunate reminder that a small number of attorneys turn to stealing from their clients as a way to address their own personal or professional issues. We should be heartened knowing that the ability of the Fund to compensate victims demonstrates to those victims and the public at large that Wisconsin lawyers are overwhelmingly honest, ethical, and worthy of the public’s trust.”

The Wisconsin Supreme Court established the fund in 1981 to reimburse people who lost money through dishonest acts of Wisconsin attorneys. Reimbursement decisions are made at the discretion of the committee, which meets three times a year.